Trial for fatal Antioch motorcycle crash delayed again
The attorney for a Wonder Lake man accused of driving drunk in a 2016 motorcycle crash in Antioch that killed his passenger was granted one final trial delay on Friday.
Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti told defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky when postponing the trial of Gary L. Rogers this would be his last continuance.
Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Michael Ori "strenuously" objected to moving the trial to April 16, saying the case was nearing two years old, the defense attorney had all the information needed to go to trial, and the victims deserved to have this put behind them.
Rogers, 47, of the 5000 block of Hilltop Drive, was attempting a left turn on his motorcycle on to Route 59 from westbound Route 173 when he struck the concrete curb at the traffic light island at 1:54 p.m. July 4, 2016, authorities said.
The crash seriously injured passenger Traci L. Dotson, 45, of Wonder Lake, authorities said. She was taken by helicopter to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she later died.
An investigation by Antioch police and the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team determined Rogers was operating the motorcycle with a blood-alcohol level in excess of the .08 threshold, authorities said.
He was released from custody after posting 10 percent of his $100,000 bail.
If found guilty of the most serious charges, Rogers could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years in prison.
The two sides are due back in court March 1.